url=http://www.tor.com/2016/04/28/tv-rights-to-the-wheel-of-time-optioned-by-new-studio-with-jordan-estates-approval/ ]Gets Optioned[/url]
Before I write more than I should, I will state that I've never read these books, but have heard of them when it was made into computer game in pre-internet times and also a table top role playing game. I really hope they don't make the same mistakes in a certain other adaption I've now given up on watching because it just looks like a excuse to party in front of everybody while only most tiny of connections with source material.
I did try to enjoy the Shannara Chronicles.
So sorry about that.....
Gets Optioned (http://www.tor.com/2016/04/28/tv-rights-to-the-wheel-of-time-optioned-by-new-studio-with-jordan-estates-approval/)
Before I write more than I should, I will state that I've never read these books, but have heard of them when it was made into computer game in pre-internet times and also a table top role playing game. I really hope they don't make the same mistakes in a certain other adaption I've now given up on watching because it just looks like a excuse to party in front of everybody while only most tiny of connections with source material.
I did try to enjoy the Shannara Chronicles.
Wheel of Time is one of the first epic series I got into and aside from the massive drag with the middle 7 or so books its got a pretty decent original world behind it if they can get that across it might be something worth watching. But lets just hope this turns out better than the last WOT pilot, sure its somewhere on You Tube but trust me you really don't want to watch it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZOCCEuROPk
oops that's a link to it, maybe you do want to watch it, its got Billy Zane in it after all :)
CU Radbacker
Yeah, I was watching that before. Didn't even want to link it here partly because, I think you can find it if you really want to see it yourselves and partly out of embarrassment.
Read about that on in the article I linked and how it was almost banned.
Not sure how it hold look, but that was just not inspiring or maybe it was on some level I don't understand.
What really impressed about the novels was when somebody on Tolkien Online quoted something from them...something like I am the Dragon reborn.
That really got my interested enough to read more about it on the wiki, but that was quite a while ago now. I really need a refresher.
Shannara Chronicles... the first series of it.....looks like it's being rerun now. About to start again soon.
They have announced the casting of some of the main characters:
https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/wheel-of-time-series-amazon-rand-althor-josha-stadowski-perrin-marcus-rutherford-1203302153/
I have read all the books and am a bit worried about this. I guess with this and The Witcher I just don't wanr to get my hopes up for a good adaption after GoT. Chronicles of Shannara was just dreadful - fantasy made for teengers who don't read fantasy.
Regarding that pilot episode I read somewhere that the tv/film rights were about to expire so the people who owned them had to use them so they threw together a pilot and aired it on Canada's 7th most popular tv channel at 2.00am. Might give it a watch to see how dreadful it really is.
I tired at book 3 but have 4-5 waiting for me to read...i enjoyed it but i thought the female character too interchangeable for my liking and the whole (insert the nun religion thing here trials) a bit dull and over convoluted.
I saw the pilot just after reading the books and quite enjoyed it. Sure, it was made without a budget or care, but it was set before the books (at the time the previous Dragon was going nuts) and had a few nods to the books' backstory.
Haha yes Jordan is quite the fan of powerful (read difficult) women.
That actually sounds interesting, I might watch it.
Hitting our screens on November 19th:
https://youtu.be/UIMkfP4JsxU
I am so excited!
Also scared it might end up like GoT but mostly excited.
Yes I'm waiting, this, The Boys and The Expanse are why I have an Amazon Prime account. I'm hopeful everything looks good so far (except Perrin is taller than Rand 🤪) it'll be interesting how they depict The One Power on screen as it's quite visual in the books being described as weaving the one power from the preview doesn't look like they have that part down but it may be different when we see it from the characters point of view as only they can see the weaves the normals just see the results. I do like the casting and can't wait for Nynaeve to tug her braid 😊😊
CU Radbacker
F**king diabolical!
The only one I'm not happy with is Lan, was really expecting something else. I'd always pictured him looking like the actor who plays Rollo in Vikings but let's hope the actor they've chosen kills it in the role.
Afaik the first season will not correlate to the first book (they won't get to Camelyn until S2) so I wonder how long this is going to go for?
There's a couple of clips out there one of them showing Alan doing his business and he looks good doing it. I think they are shuffling things about a bit copaired to the books so we get Tar Valon and the White Tower this season with Camlyn next season. We are also getting ore if Logan the False Dragon in season 1 and I don't think he even got a mention in book 1
CU Radbacker
Quote from: Rara Avis on 16 October, 2021, 09:10:46 AM
I wonder how long this is going to go for?
Until people don't watch it, and they cancel it without reaching a conclusion. I mean, it's 13 doorstop books. That could be 26 seasons; so 30 years.
It. Will. Never. End.
I thought Logain did appear in Book 1; [spoiler]when Mat and Rand are trying to have a goo at him and end up in the palace gardens and meet Elayne.[/spoiler] Was that Book 1?
Well as long as it stays quality the whole way through; you can count me in. I can't wait to see the Aiel; excitement levels are to the max by 10 squared.
I liked the books back in the day,but the trailer didn't really impress me. You want the next GoT,we get it, Amazon.
So is anyone watching this? I know nowt about the books and story etc but fancied getting onboard with something from the off and so decided to try this.
Thought the first episode was poor. It was almost as if it was trying to NOT be GoT (from what I've seen) and as such was neat and colourful in a way I don' think that (GoT) is. Characters so earnst and cliche, none of them capable of drinking rather than swilling! The big battle with the Trollocks - its so tempting - at the village was utterly unconvincing and came across as daft rather than desperate. BUT so many telly shows need three or four episodes to get into so wasn't too worried.
So watched the second tonight and it was much, much better. Really quite enjoyed it. Still has considerable problems, but its warming up. Some of the characters, now its focused more, are developing nicely. Still think the ginger one is an daft, annoying twat, rather than edgy as I think he's meant to be.
The biggest problem - and I can't be the only one doing this - every time I see the Trollocks running as a horde, I just want to shout out 'Stupid, stupid rat characters'
Just watched the third episode and it was actually really rather good, a few sticking points aside. As I said often it can take three to four episodes and so it would seem. Let's see if it keeps this up...
I'm watching and even as a huge fan of the books agree the first episode is a tad weak but I'm guessing it's the fact it needs to set a lot up. There have been some changes but it seems to get it right most of the time. It does seem a bit generic at the moment but the first book in there series is a homage to LOTR but really starts to become its own thing as the series progresses. The Trollocs look great its good to see they went practical for them, and if the ginger guys is getting on your nerves now wait till this hits season 3-4 to really grind your gears 🙂 ,though without spoiling anything that is part of his character development.
As a huge fan of the books I am enjoying what has been put to screen so far but will admit from a non fan point of view it could all come across as a bit generic I'll just say stick with it. I'd give the first 3 episodes a high 7 out of 10.
CU Radbacker
Quote from: Radbacker on 22 November, 2021, 03:24:06 AM
As a huge fan of the books I am enjoying what has been put to screen so far but will admit from a non fan point of view it could all come across as a bit generic I'll just say stick with it. I'd give the first 3 episodes a high 7 out of 10.
I am about engage with the books and the tv series at once or should I rather do the books before the series ?
Quote from: broodblik on 22 November, 2021, 06:06:20 AM
Quote from: Radbacker on 22 November, 2021, 03:24:06 AM
As a huge fan of the books I am enjoying what has been put to screen so far but will admit from a non fan point of view it could all come across as a bit generic I'll just say stick with it. I'd give the first 3 episodes a high 7 out of 10.
I am about engage with the books and the tv series at once or should I rather do the books before the series ?
Books first, always. You get to use your own imagination, rather than have the text filtered by a TV director
It's about as good as I expected based on the trailers, which is to say, solidly middling, and I will look forward to it week on week. I'm mourning the conclusion of Foundation and really need something to look forward to on Friday night TV!
Unlike the esteemed Colin YNWA, I thought the attack on the village was what saved the first episode. The trollocks are pretty scary, and having a geunine battle mage tear them to pieces was pretty damn cool.
Yeah that was ok. Loved the Trollocks myself even if the order of some of the fight seemed a bit jumbled. But deffo took a turn for the better when the earnest dialogue gave way to character through action.
If "Trollocks" isn't adopted soon as a swear word, then I don't know what has gone wrong with the world. :D
Quote from: paddykafka on 22 November, 2021, 11:48:05 PM
If "Trollocks" isn't adopted soon as a swear word, then I don't know what has gone wrong with the world. :D
I'm hoping it's just a setup for a "Never mind the Trollocks!" line later...
Quote from: paddykafka on 22 November, 2021, 11:48:05 PM
If "Trollocks" isn't adopted soon as a swear word, then I don't know what has gone wrong with the world. :D
It very much was among my mates when I was a kid.
Well fourth episode had some incredible moments. The quieter character driven pieces allowed folks to developed and allowed the end to explode out into something that felt quite astonishing.
Okay I might be into this now...
OK. Watched two episodes of this now. I'm entirely unfamiliar with the books, but is this ever going to stop being sub-Tolkien, second-rate-D&D-campaign shit?
I mean, even the "No, it's fantasy but POST-APOCALYPSE FANTASY" thing was already thoroughly played out by the time Terry Brooks' execrable 'Shannara' books were done with it.
I'm really struggling to find a reason to watch another episode of this.
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 28 November, 2021, 07:33:23 PM
OK. Watched two episodes of this now. I'm entirely unfamiliar with the books, but is this ever going to stop being sub-Tolkien, second-rate-D&D-campaign shit?
If it's at all similar to the books, then no.
If you read the books you can follow the characters as they 'level-up'. I would say it's AD&D 2nd Edition.
The fact it was very D&D is what I liked about it. Felt a very nostalgic pang watching it.
Well he first couple of books were written as a bit of a homage to Tolkien but after that it does do it's own thing, the whole post apocalypse side of things isn't really important that it is our world it's just an aside that things used to be much better and more advanced than the darkish ages they live in now (in fact I'm not sure if it is ever explicitly explained that this is our earth in the far future). I'd say give it another couple of episodes Jim and you'll know that f you'll want to stick with it, just think in this first season they we going to do a couple of flashbacks one to the Aeil war and one to the age of legends which should help bring it out as something a bit more original than it seems at the moment. I loved episode 4 and am really enjoying it now can't wait for some of the big book moments to be put on screen.
CU Radbacker
A question to you guys that have read the books and watched the show so far: I have started reading the first book and does the show cover the first book or must I read more books?
Quote from: broodblik on 04 December, 2021, 08:27:28 AM
A question to you guys that have read the books and watched the show so far: I have started reading the first book and does the show cover the first book or must I read more books?
The first season, I believe, is set to cover the first half of the first book, The Eye of the World. It also incorporates some aspects of the prequel novel, New Spring - in particular the characters Kerene and Stepin. However, reading New Spring is generally not recommended until you've read at least the first 5 books in the main series, as it will reveal spoilers that are best left until later in the series. Personally I read it between the 10th and 11th novels, which is the publication order.
Thanks Mumbo I will follow your recommendation
Watched episode 5 last night and its still solidly entertaining. Not blowing me away but there's always very good bits. The villains of the piece (well since the Stupid Stupid Rat Creatures have seemingly disappeared) The Light are utterly cliche and with it utterly effective and that torture / who gets to die piece was genuinely tense.
The Orge thing was kinda cool. I like the way it drops in more fantasy bits quietly without too much fuss and without over doing its. Characters are coming on nicely and there are enough plot threads to keep things moving on at a brisk pace.
So yeah a continues to be a fun distractions and its ace looking forward to new telly week to week again. Seems to happen so rarely these days.
Couldn't actually make it to the end of Ep3. This is such painfully generic stuff that's back-referencing Tolkien and trying simultaneously to be Game of Thrones (could the opening titles be trying any harder?) but fails to have a single original or even interesting character anywhere in the whole thing, never mind an original idea.
I've been urged to stick with it because, apparently, it gets better... but I'm getting old and my hours are increasingly precious, so fuck this. Sorry. If you're enjoying it — fantastic, honestly, but I'm done.
The more I think about this, the more I'm convinced that what's really getting up my nose about this series is that it's so utterly po-faced. There isn't a whiff of humour in the entire thing, making it horribly portentous and stodgy, and incredibly hard to warm to any of the characters.
I mean, I know Jackson's LotR films mortified any number of Tolkien fans by having actual gags in them, but even GoT had the nouse to invest (at least some of) its characters with a sense of humour. Right from the first episode, with the tension-deflating "You got old"/"You got fat" exchange between Robert and Ned, through any number of Tyrion double-acts (notably Bronn and later Varys), a decent chunk of Arya and the Hound...
This, though... it doesn't seem to have the depth the weighty tone seems to imply we should be finding in it.
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 06 December, 2021, 01:55:12 PM
This, though... it doesn't seem to have the depth the weighty tone seems to imply we should be finding in it.
I'm not sure where that expectation comes from. I feel happy to receive the show on its own terms. It probably helps that I haven't read the books -- although I am surrounded by people who have!
I thought episode 5 was the best of the bunch. Solid world building, good character work, excellent performances, and an emotional finale.
Quote from: wedgeski on 06 December, 2021, 04:21:56 PM
I'm not sure where that expectation comes from.
From the complete absence of any humour, as I explained...?
I was on the fence until Ep.4 where I thought it really started to come into it's stride.
I find it far too clean (set wise) and somewhat lacking in verisimilitude however I am really enjoying it. I think it has huge potential. Last week's episode was fantastic and can't wait to see this week's.
I was also completely wrong about Daniel Henney (Lan) - he is absolutely killing it in that role!
Well Episode 6 was a bit of a dip. I normally like these quieter more character driven episodes of a telly show, but here it exposed the shows ponderous, yet slightly silly, underbelly. Mind that cliffhanger at the end was very good.
I quite liked it as an exploration of non-toxic masculinity.
Thought that all ended rather well. Can't pretend I was disappointed with the whole [spoiler]Rand being the dragon[/spoiler] thing and they way it was discovered after building up such mystery - Oh its me, I get it, its me, hey boss lady its me let's go do our thing... and it had to wrap up a lot in that final episode to make the series stand on its own BUT all that said it did it pretty well... well if you don't look too closely at some of the bits I assume were compressed to get the first book (??? is this the end of the first book?) into one series.
You can kinda see where things are starting to go, though suspect there'll be plenty of twists and turn along the way and I'm certainly coming back for the second series which I believe has been confirmed already.
Overall good solid fantasy nonsense that whipped me along for the ride in a way LotR and The Hobbit films completely failed to do.
Wait? What? You weren't engaged by LotR? The Hobbit, I can understand but... But..
Quote from: Tiplodocus on 26 December, 2021, 10:00:16 AM
Wait? What? You weren't engaged by LotR? The Hobbit, I can understand but... But..
When I re-read LotR just before the films came out it was a utter slog. When I watched the films ... well it was much the same. Pomp and pockycock. I remember watching the final one in the cinema with a friend and by the end we were having to try really hard to suppress bursting out with laughter. Everyone else seemed so engaged blurting out laughing seemed really unfair to the folks enjoying it. I couldn't look at him, but I broken when the hobbits bounced in ... someones... Frodo's bed.
The Hobbit is a good book, the film... well how they managed to do that (though I must admit I've never watch one end to end but I suspect I've seen them all in various chuck while others in the house have watched them) with such a wonderful simple, yet fantastical book is beyond me. EVERY SCENE - everyone is overblown and overplayed beyond value (also see Jackson's King Kong... or rather don't bother...
... well that came out - seems I've not ranted enough about those in my life and its been building up somewhere... sorry...
Anyway Wheel of Time, while having some of the same problems is much better.
We'll I didn't mind the final episode but they have made some serious changes from the books that may cause some major issues further down the track. Still I was on the edge of my seat through most of that and the missus who hasn't read the books liked it. Here's hoping for a bit of course correction at the start of next season which the issues they had after the actor that played Matt left the show and has now been recast.
One thing I really didn't like though [spoiler]having Nyneve get burnt out and killed by a he one power and then bringing her back to life it's a big point in the books and particularly at the end of book 3 you can't cure death, even the Dragon the most powerful chaneller ever born can't do it[/spoiler]
CU Radbacker
I didn't think it was the greatest adaptation book lovers could have asked for but I think it's a good intro to the world and I'm looking forward to seeing where this can go.
Quote from: Radbacker on 27 December, 2021, 12:44:10 AM
We'll I didn't mind the final episode but they have made some serious changes from the books that may cause some major issues further down the track. Still I was on the edge of my seat through most of that and the missus who hasn't read the books liked it. Here's hoping for a bit of course correction at the start of next season which the issues they had after the actor that played Matt left the show and has now been recast.
One thing I really didn't like though [spoiler]having Nyneve get burnt out and killed by a he one power and then bringing her back to life it's a big point in the books and particularly at the end of book 3 you can't cure death, even the Dragon the most powerful chaneller ever born can't do it[/spoiler]
[spoiler][/spoiler]
CU Radbacker
[spoiler]I don't think Nynaeve was meant to actually be dead, but on the verge. She was healed just in time by Egwene. She did look dead though. They probably should have toned back the amount of damage she sustained.
Going by the books though, Egwene, while a powerful channeler* is not a talented healer and I'm not convinced she would have managed that. But then this isn't the books. It would have been more believable if it had been Nynaeve healing Egwene from close death as healing is very much her thing, but Nynaeve had already had her moment in the previous (rather good) Logain episode.[/spoiler]
I really enjoyed the books, (even those books in the middle that others didn't) and I enjoyed this series too, although it could have been a bit better. It does depart somewhat from the books but is pretty true to them. I think Mat's character was wrong (which isn't to knock that actor or the character he did portray... it just wasn't Mat. He is meant to be a cheeky rascal, and a bit of a rogue and a trickster, although the actor does portray [spoiler]degradation under the influence of the Shadar Logoth dagger) [/spoiler] pretty well.
He also [spoiler] left the series too early, [/spoiler] but I understand that was due to real world stuff caused by break in shooting caused by the pandemic and the actor's leaving which couldn't be helped. Hey probably dealt with this as well as they could.
Overall, with reservations, I enjoyed that, and I look forward to more.
*[spoiler]albeit minuscule compared to Nynaeve, but she is exceptionally powerful.[/spoiler]
I just finished the first season and just before that I have read the first two books. Now everything is fresh in my mind and I can compare apples vs apples. As a first season the show is quite enjoyable as an adaption to the books it felt more like the people writing the script did not read the book but was told of the book. The last few episodes completely ignored what happened in the book especially how the riles each character played.
As a show I will give it a good 7 for an adaption I will give it 3.